Page 16 of The Paternity Puzzle
Royce glanced at the time on the microwave and winced. They’d far exceeded the two-minute mark, and he still neededto change his clothes and inform Diego that his party was over. “How’d you become involved with the siblings?”
“Dr. Matisse’s last clinic was in Savannah, and he retired here. His local victims are aware of our podcast and reached out because the doctor’s behavior was downright sinister,” Felix explained.
“Why not pursue legal or civil action?” Sawyer asked.
“Statutes of limitations prevent the victims from legal recourse, but I expect a civil suit is forthcoming. They wanted to focus on exposing his misdeeds first.”
“Does Dr. Matisse know what you’ve uncovered?” Royce asked.
Felix nodded. “It’s unethical for me to run a hit piece without giving him an opportunity to respond to the allegations. I called his home around noon on Friday, and we had a brief conversation. He denied any wrongdoing and refused to comment further. Dr. Matisse referred all future questions to his legal counsel but refused to name a lawyer or provide their contact information when I asked for it.”
Royce heaved a sigh. “That’ll have to be enough for now, but I’m holding you to this agreement.”
“As long as you keep your end of the bargain,” Felix replied.
Royce turned to Sawyer. They both knew the hazards of being law enforcement officers and the toll it took on their private life, so there was no need to apologize. He did it anyway. “I’m sorry this ruined our plans. I’ll get back as fast as I can.”
“I know you will.”
They shared a brief kiss before Royce left him in the kitchen to retrieve his temporary partner. Diego smiled as he approached, but his good humor faded when he clocked Royce’s expression.
“No, man,” Diego groaned. “Come on, Ro.”
“Chief Mendoza has tagged me to work a high-profile case, and I’ve chosen you to be my partner.”
Diego gestured to his board shorts and lifted his discarded T-shirt off the lounger. “You expect me to go to a crime scene dressed like this?”
Levi leaned over and kissed his husband’s cheek. “There’s a go bag for you in the trunk of my car.”
Diego narrowed his eyes, and his lips formed a little pout. “Sounds like you’re eager to get rid of me.”
Levi rolled his eyes and nudged him with his shoulder. There was a significant size difference between the husbands, so Levi’s gesture barely budged Diego. “I just know how these things go.”
“Grab your things and get changed.” Royce gestured to himself. “I’ll do the same, and we’ll meet out front.”
“I’ll be there,” Diego said dryly.
Sawyer was sitting on the bed when Royce reached their room. “The universe isn’t sending me a message, right?” Sawyer had lived another life before meeting Royce. He’d been married and happily in love with Victor Ruiz, and they’d been approved for adoption right before Vic received a terminal cancer diagnosis. The situations were in no way similar, but would Felix’s bombshell trigger fears that Sawyer had hoped to leave in the past? Did he feel like his dreams of fatherhood were on the verge of being yanked away again?
Royce shut the door and inhaled a deep, slow breath. The long exhale acted like a reset button for his brain. Sawyer’s soulful eyes implored Royce to give him promises he had no business making. He crossed the room to stand before Sawyer, who stood up so they were eye to eye. “Dr. Flores is not Dr. Matisse. She is a brilliant, kind doctor who has dedicated her life to making dreams like ours come true.”
“All the mothers who’d visited Dr. Matisse’s clinics probably thought the same thing. You and I both know how heightenedemotions interfere with perception and judgment. We weren’t utilizing our specialized training during our interactions at the clinic. We were firing on hopes, dreams, and adrenaline. We were just as vulnerable as anyone else in those moments.”
Royce cupped Sawyer’s face. “I have enough faith for both of us. Our insemination was successful, and we’re going to have a baby. Probably a little girl who will have us wrapped around her finger before she draws her first breath. Anytime doubt tries to wiggle in, just think about that.”
Sawyer wrapped his arms around Royce and held on for dear life. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“Damn right, we are.” And no deviant doctor’s past deeds would ruin this beautiful journey for them.
“That’s fucked-up,” Diego said as they sped toward the Oaks, an exclusive gated community. “And it sounds like there will be a lot of suspects if his death resulted from foul play.”
“And more media coverage than we can imagine.” Royce lifted his left hand off the steering wheel and crossed his fingers. “Please let it be natural causes.”
“Amen,” Diego agreed. “Have you told Mendoza what you learned from Felix and the gang?” Everyone had a different nickname for the trio of trouble. Some sounded like rock bands, others like motorcycle gangs, and one made Royce think of a softball team. Felix was the ringleader in every scenario, and it was a badge of honor he wore proudly.
“Not yet,” Royce replied as he pulled to a stop at a red light. “I wanted to wait until we’ve assessed the situation. Telling Mendoza now would take things from a ten to a hundred.”
“I’ll trust your instincts,” Diego said. “But I won’t hesitate to throw you under the bus if the chief demands to know why we waited to tell him about the fraud allegations.”